What is the meaning of “divide and conquer?”

The Miriam Webster Dictionary defines Divide and conquer as: “to make a group of people disagree and fight with one another so that they will not join together against one.”

The divide and conquer strategy is used as a military strategy but it has also been used in many organizations, formal or informal, to keep workers under subjection.

It has also been used to prevent the overthrow of higher powers and to prevent groups of people from uniting for a common cause.

Thus, when rivalry and discord are deliberately instigated among workers it will ensure that they are divided.

“Divided they fall, united they stand.”

Jesus also reinforced this fact.

But he knowing their thoughts said unto them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth. If Satan also is divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand?”

(Luke 11:17-18A KJV)

Satan’s kingdom will fall when we create confusion in the enemy’s camp.

Divide and conquer is one of the primary strategies that God used against the enemies of Israel.

One well-known example is the destruction of the Wall of Jericho (Joshua 6).

God instructed Joshua to let the people march around the city’s wall once per day for six days.

During the march, the people were told to remain silent and only the priest should blow the trumpets.

On the seventh day, the people should march seven times around the wall.

On the seventh march, when the priests blew their trumpets, Joshua commanded the people to shout and make a great noise.

They all shouted together in one accord and the wall of Jericho fell flat. This created great confusion among the inhabitants of the city and the Israelites easily conquered them.

I can just imagine how the people of Jericho laughed at the ragged nomads who were silently circling their city. They must have set up camps on the wall just to watch the spectacle.

They had confidence in the strength of their fortified city. Nothing could destroy its great wall and certainly not some weak nomads.

Rumors might have spread among the citizens of Jericho that on the seventh day the parade would last longer and be even more spectacular.

Thus on the seventh day, there might have been a great crowd of people on the wall mocking and jeering the Israelites.

Possibly, the well-armored soldiers were off duty on the wall enjoying the fun.

The grand finale turned out to be a historical day that would be remembered for ages to come.

I believe the warrior angels in heaven joined in the shouts of the Israelites to produce the sound of a chilling battle cry never heard on the earth.

The resultant fear and confusion destroyed the inhabitants of Jericho.

“It is finished.”

God miraculously destroyed the enemy with noise and confusion.

What a mighty God we served!

Spiritual lessons from the wall of Jericho

The lessons that we learn from this story are:

Obedience to the Holy spirit will conquer the enemy of our soul.

Praise and thanksgiving to God will cause division and confusion in the enemy’s camp thus conquering him.

You do not fight fire with fire!

You fight hatred with love; pride with humility, anger with calm, and evil with good.

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

(Proverbs 15:1 NKJV)

Jesus advised us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44).

My prayer for us today, is that the Lord will help us to exercise the strategy that He has given us to overcome the devices of the enemy.